North Korea may begin testing an improved intercontinental ballistic missile “in the near future,” the head of the United States’ North Command said on Tuesday.
“The North Korean regime has also indicated that it is no longer subject to the unilateral nuclear testing and ICBM moratorium announced in 2018, suggesting that Kim Jong Un may start testing an improved ICBM project in the near future,” said General Glen VanHerck told the Senate Armed Services Committee.
North Korea, three years ago, had promised a unilateral freeze on ICBM and nuclear weapons testing.
A defense official told NBC News that the United States is aware of increased vehicular activity in a location where there is a history of missile launches. The official stressed that there is no evidence of an imminent launch. The United States continues to monitor the situation.
In a March 12 post of 38 North, a website that offers analysis of North Korea, there are commercial satellite images showing new activities at the country’s Uranium Enrichment Plant (UEP). The images show smoke or steam coming out of a building, as well as the spread of a yellowish substance in front of the plant. The drying of grains around the complex is common during the harvest, but at this time of year the nature of the activity is unclear, according to the website.
At a later Pentagon briefing, VanHerck told reporters that North Korea displayed a new missile at a parade in October, demonstrating that the regime possibly had three intercontinental missiles that could threaten the United States.
“In the public parade we saw on October 10, we saw additional capabilities, an additional missile. Now they are up to three missiles that we evaluate could reach our country ”, said the general.
VanHerck said he was confident that the US military could defend itself against any attack and could prevent the regime from launching an attack.
“We always maintain our ability to defend our homeland,” he said, referring to an anti-missile defense system and a new radar system that is being tested.
Citing a combination of land-based interceptors, ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons, the general said: “I think we have a good deterrent posture.”
The Biden government tried last month to start negotiations with North Korea, but received no response to its proposals, the White House said on Monday.
North Korean state media previously reported that the sister of North Korean leader Kim Yo Jong warned the United States of joint military exercises underway with South Korea.
“If you want to sleep in peace for [the] next four years, it is better to refrain from causing a bad smell in your first stage, “said Kim in a statement released by state news agency KCNA.